Speed-changing mechanism



June 19, 1928.

A. s. MAcKENzlE SPEED CHANGING MECHANISM Filed Jury 9. 1925 :s sheets-'sheet I '1 June 19, 1928.

' 1,673,838 A. s. MAcKl-:NZIE y SPEED CHANGING MECHANISM Filed July 9, 1925 s sheets-sheet 2 June 19, 1928. 1,613,838

` A. S. MACKENZIE SPEED CHANGING MECHANI SM Filed, July 9, 1925 3 sheets--sheetY 5 il l Patented June 19, 1928.

UNITED STATES ALEXANDER S..MACKENZIE, OF HOUSTON, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR 10 CLAYTON GIN COI- ]RESS COMYANY, OF HOUSTON, TEXAS, A CRPORATON OF TEXAS.

SPEEDTCHANGING MECHANISM.

Application mea July 9,

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in speed changing mechanisms.

An important object of the invention is to provide a speed changing mechanism which includes an arrangement of parts for effecting the proper balance of the device, equalizing the bearing pressure and reducing t-he amount of vibration which is prevalent 'and detrimental in devices of thistype.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a speed changing mechanism wherein the drive can be taken off from either of two different points.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a device of the above n character, which includes balanced gyrating members provided with eccentric means'and driving means arranged with respect to the axes of the gyrating members as to effect perfect balance of the mechanism, and to cause all bearing and tooth pressures to act in a straight line at right angles to the axis of rotation, thereby eliminating tortion in line with the axis of rotation.

1n the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown the type of invention as at present preferred, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the severalv views:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through the mechanism.

Figure 2 is a transverse section taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal` section through the mechanism yon the line 3 3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a side elevation of one of the double eccentrics for driving theA gyrating members, and

Figure pis an end elevation of the same. y

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral G designates a driving shaft which is journaled in bushings 7 and 8 of supporting plates 9 and 10 constituting a cage. This cage comprises a. pair of disc-shaped members which are each provided adjacent their peripheries with openings 11 arranged at points spaced equi-distant oircumferentially thereof. Each opening 11 is provided with a suitable bushing 12. The openings in the two supporting members 9 and 10 are arranged in horizontal aligmnent as shown for a purpose which will be hereinafter described.

1925. Serial No. 42,491.

These supporting members 9 and 10' form the cage, since they` are provided at diamet-` sions are provided with interlitting flanges 14', having aligned apertures for the reception of bolts l5, for fastening the two supporting members together.

The supporting member 9 is equipped with an'axially extending sleeve portion 1b' which' surrounds the driven shaft 6, and is mounted on the bushings 7. One end ofthis sleeve Vportion 16 is extended as at 17 to be mounted in a bracket 18 or any other suitable support.

The' other supporting member 10 of the cage is equipped with a center bearing sleeve 19, which extends slightly to either side thereof. The onter'end of this bearing lits snugly within an opening in a hub portion 20 of an end plat-e 21, of a round bale cotton press, or may be mounted in any other desirable manner. In the present illustration the supporting member 10 is adapted to .remain stationary and is fastened to the hub portion 20 by machine screws 22.

A drive pinion 23 is keyed to the driving shaft 6 within the cage as best seen in Figure-s 1k and 3, and meshes with apluralityv of pinions211 arranged at equal distances apart around the axis of the driving shaft upon eccentric shafts 25, the ends of ,which are supported in the bushings 12 in the supporting members 9 and 10 of the' cage, as best seen in Figure 1. To promote the balance of the mechanism, I have illustrated four pinions 24 and eccentric shafts 25, but it is to be understood that 1 do not limit my invention to this number, although it will be found that more than two are necessary for perfect balance and smooth operation. Each of the eccentric shafts is provided with a pair of diametrically opposed eccent-rics or cams 29, which are arranged upon opposite faces of a spacing plate 27 integral with each shaft. f

The set of eccentrics 29,'adjacent the supporting member 9 provide support and actu.- ating means for a gyrating gear 28, by reason of the fact that this set of eecentrics is mounted within spaced openings 26 provided with bushingsj 30 arranged equi-distant around theaxis of the gyrating gear. A second gyrating gear 31 of exactly the ari' . shown.

i,for attaching or fastening the pinions 24 to their respective eccentrics 29 or shafts, as

clearly shownin Figure l. Each of the gyrating gear members is provided with suitable openings 33, as seen .in Figures 2 and 3 for permitting the passage and fastening of the extensions 1.3 of the supporting members 9Nand l0. y

From Figure 2v it will be particularly noted that'the two supporting plates 9 andl l() are rigidlyl bound together' by means of the extensions 13 and interlitting flanges la at ypoints lying within a circle concentric with,v but larger than a circle y passing through the eccentric shafts 25. It will also be noted that these two supporting plates 9 and l are secured together by means of the interlitting extensions 13 and lil at four points spaced substantially 90Cv apart and that the pairs of extensions are arri'inged at diametrically opposite points on the supportingldiscs 9 and l0. rlhe foregoing arrangement provides a most rigid mounting for the eccentric. shafts due to the fact that the supporting plates 9v and l() are rigidly bound together at points spaced from the drive shaft 6, thereby relieving the bearings for the two ends of the eccentric shafts from anyhrelative movementdue to torsion and consequently provides a mechanism which 4will operate with minimum friction under maximum loads.

,v For enclosing the mechanism just described, and for effecting a change of speed from the driving' shaft, a case oi' housing' 3a is provided to enclose the mechanism hereinbefore described, and in the present instance, consists of three separable sections. an intermediate annulus provided with peripheral outwardly extending flanges, and

. a pair of substantially similar end plates or sections 3b, all of which are removably fastened together by .means of the bolts 37. The inner periphery of the annulus if; provided with internal gear teeth 38 as The end section 36 adjacent the gyrating gear 28 is provided with a bearing portion 39 which is mount-ed upon a bushing 40, mounted upon the sleeve portion i6 of the supporting member 9. rThe other end section 36 of the casing is equipped with a bearing sleeve 4l mounted on abusliing i2 surrounding the hub 20, and from this arrangement it will be seen that in the present illustration the case is adapted for rotation. To provide for proper lubrication of the device, the interior walls of the endsections 36 are equipped with oil buckets or chambers 36', adapted upon rotation ofthe case, to carry oil from the bottom lof the case, and dump it upon the parts therein.

The bearing sleeve al in the present illustration is provided with master gear teeth f3 adapted for mesh with roll gears la mounted upon roller shafts d5, of a round bale cotton press, for revolving the rollers 46 thereof in a manner well understood. These roller shafts l5 are joui-nailed in the stationary frame 2l of the press in the customary manner, and a further description of this press is unnecessaryin view of the fact that it forms no part of the present invention, Abut is merely illustrated in connection therewith to show on'e'a'pplication of the speed changing mechanism. v

From the foregoing arrangement of parts, and the fact that the supporting cage is a stationary element in the present illustration', it will be seen that clockwise rotation of t-he vdriving shaft 6 will cause corresponding rotation of the pinion 23, which, in turn, will cause counter-clockwise rotation of ythe pinioiis 24. Thesel later piiiions being secured to the eccentrics 29, will cause counterclockwise rotation of the eccentric shafts 25 and corresponding movement'of the eccentrics 29, which causes the gears 28 and 3l to gyrate and move their teeth'into engagement with the internal gear 38 to effect counter clockwise rotation of the casing 35 and consequentlythe master gear 43' which is in fact the driven body. From the disposition of the eccentries with respect to the gyrating gears, and the proportions of the' various parts, it will be obvious that ldiainetrically opposite portions of the ;yrating` rotate. When the parts are thus supported,

clockwise rotation of the driving shaft 6 will transmit corresponding movement of the drive pinion v23, which in such an arrangement is, in effect, a sun gear.' Due to the fact that some parts of they gyrating members 28 and 3l are always in mesh with diametrically oppositepoints on the internaly gear 38, the reaction between these gears taking place as the driving shaft'is rotated, causes the pinions 24 to rotate and planetate around the aXis of the driving shaft, carrywill be caused to gyiate and roll around the ani internal gear 3S in a Yclockwise movement, it being appreciated that while one toothed portion of one gyrating member is in engagement with the internal, gear, the diamet-rically opposed tooth portion of the other gyrating member will be engaged with the diametrically'opposed portion of the interiial gear. Consequently, it will be-seen that as these gyrating lmembers roll around 'lthe internal gear they will have the effect of alternately stepping forward into mesh with the internal gear, which cooperation effects reaction between the gears, which causes the pinions 24 to planetate about the axis of the driving shaft. Since the ends of the eccentric shafts 25 are mounted and supported in the end plates 9 and 1 0, or cage, it will be seen that the cage is driven when the easing is held stationary.

.Vlien the casing is maintained stationary and the drive is taken off through the cage, it will be obvious that the mechanism cannot be moved by application of power to the end plates, since the gyrating gears, always being inunesh with the internal gear, lock and prevent movement of the speed changing mechanism.

In the present illustration the internal gear has eighty-two teeth, each of the gyrating members seventy-nine teeth, each pinion 9A has forty teeth, and the drive pinion 23 has thirty-six teeth, so that when the case is adapted to rotate, the case rotates one revolution while the driving shaft rotates through thirty revolutions, and when the case 35 is maintained stationary, the ratio is 3l to l. However, it is to be understood that I do not limit the invention to these ratios or to any other, as the ratio may be changed by merely changing the number of teeth of the gears. l

By reason of the fact that the gyrating members 28 and 31 are of identical construction and are mounted upon eccentrics 29, which have equal throw as well as the fact that the pinions 24 and eccentric shafts are arranged at points equi-distant around the axis of the gyrating members, and near the center of gravity of the case, so they will balance each other, it will be clearly seen that an arrangement has been provided .in which there will be perfect balance and harmony of action of parts, and consequently vibration of the mechanism will be reduced to a minimum and effect a smoothlyy operating speed reducing mechanism.

I claim:

l. In a speed changing mechanism, the combination 'of a'casing forming an internal gear, a pair of gyrating gears adapted to mesh therewith and having openings, supporting plates at opposite sides of the gyrating gears and having extensions projecting through the openings thereof and secured together, and driven shafts journaled in said plates,and'havingv eccentrics co-operating'with the'gyrating gears.

'2. Speed reducing means comprising in combination, a rotary internal gear casing having oil means for carrying lubricant to the upper portion thereofy and discharging it at said upper portion of the casing, balanced gyrating gears for operating the same, stationary supportsat either side of .said gyrating gears, eccentric shafts extending through said gyrating gears and having op posed ends mounted in said supports, eccentrics on said shafts for operating the gyrating gears, said shafts being arranged equidistant around the axis of the gyrating gears, a drive body, a pinion secured to each eccentric shaft, and a drive pinion on the' drive body and meshing with the first named pinions.

3. In a speed changing mechanism, the combination of an internal gear, a gyrating gearmeshing therewith, supporting members at opposite sides of said gyrating gear, driven shafts journaled in said supporting members and having eccentrics cooperating with said gyrating gear, and means rigidly connecting said supporting members, said means being spaced equi-distant on a circle substantially as large as a circle passing through said driven eccentric shafts.

4. In a speed changing mechanism, the combination of an internal gear, a gyrating gear meshing therewith, supporting members at opposite sides of the gyrating gear,

driven shafts journaled in said supporting members and having eccentrics cooperating with said gyra-ting gear, and means rigidly connecting said supporting members outside of a circle passing through said driven eccentric shafts.

5. In a speed changing mechanism, the combination of a casing forming an internal gear, a pair of gyrating gears meshing therewith and having openings, supporting plates at opposite sides of said gyrating gears, driven shafts journaled in said plates and having eccentrics cooperating with said gyrating gears, and means extending through said openings in the gyrating gears and rigidly connecting said supporting plates.

6. In a speed changing mechanism, the combination of an internal gear, a gyrating gear meshing therewith, supporting discs at opposite sides of said gyrating gear, driven shafts journaled in said supporting discs and having eccentrics cooperating with said gyrating gear, and means extending through said gyrating gear for 'rigidly connecting said supporting discs, said means being arranged at diametrically opposite points and being spaced apart substantially 90.

7. In a speed `changing mechanism, the combination of an internal gear, a gyrating gear meshing` therewith, supporting discs at opposite sides or' said gyrating gear,`sha'fts journaled in said supporting members and having eccentrics cooperating with said gyrating gear, extensions carried by said supporting discs extending toward each other, said extensions being provided with intere fitting flanges, and bolts extending through said ianges for rigidly connecting the extensions oi the supporting discs together.

-8. In a speed changing mechanism, the combination of an internal gear, a gyrating gear meshing therewith, supporting members vat opposite sides of said gyrating gear, driven shafts journaled in said supporting members and having` eceentrics cooperating with saidgyrating gear, and means extending through said gyrating gear for rigidly connecting said supporting members, said means being arranged at diametrically opposite points. i i

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

ALEXANDER S. MACKENZIE. ,v 

